THE Hoops showed their defensive weakness in Norway as serious questions are asked about whether Deila really is the man to take them forward.

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Daily Record

Nir Bitton struggles to control the ball in the wet conditions

RONNY DEILA wanted to create a big picture.

But in Norway, a Kamara clicked and exposed his Celtic team for what they are - a shambles defensively.

Celtic are a side lacking the know-how to learn from previous mistakes as they shipped three dreadful goals to leave their Europa League hopes in serious jeopardy.

They now trail Norwegian champions Molde by five points and anything less than a win when Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer's team come to Parkhead in two weeks will almost certainly mean the end of the road in this campaign - and serious questions being asked about whether Deila really is the man to take them forward.

From the minute they conceded the opener to Molde striker Ola Kamara in the home side's first serious attack, Celtic looked like a team terrified in defence and it all ended in rancour and recriminations with Kris Commons and assistant boss John Collins having a go at each other after the Hoops' scorer and best player on the night was subbed in the 75th minute.

It was a dreadful night for football. The rain battered down on the plastic surface for hours before kick off, with the wind whistling in off the fjord that runs alongside the Aker Stadion.

It was certainly not a night for a goalkeeper to relish and Craig Gordon and those in front of him needed to keep their wits about them because last night's opponents were unbeaten on their own patch in Europe this season, drawing with Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League qualifier and Ajax in the last round of Europa League matches. It didn't take long to discover they couldn't.

Deila, whose homecoming had been overshadowed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer re-appointment as Molde's manager on Tuesday, picked a side designed to test the Norwegian champions at the back, but it's his own team's inability to defend that is crippling their hopes of making progress in Europe. He brought back Leigh Griffiths for Nadir Ciftci, while Stefan Johansen came in for Tom Rogic. Johansen, Kris Commons and Stuart Armstrong were tasked with supporting the front man.

Daily Record

Vegard Forren doubles the Norwegian side's lead

Deila's only other change from Saturday's win at Motherwell was Efe Ambrose switching from right back to centre half, allowing Mikael Lustig to come back in at the expense of Tyler Blackett.

They received loud backing from the 700 fans who had travelled and were tucked into one corner of this trim little ground that sits on as picturesque a setting as there is in world football. Only not last night.

Puddles of water splashed around the players' ankles as the action got underway with Celtic trying to press their opponents high up the pitch.

It took them only two minutes to carve out a decent opening. Commons found Armstrong surging into the box and the midfielder's low cross was turned goalwards by Griffiths only for goalkeeper Ethan Horvath to make a good block before his defenders crowded out the Celtic striker.

Action Images via Reuters

Celtic's Kris Commons reacts furiously to being substituted

Celtic dominated the early stages, playing some good football in the appalling conditions and pegging their opponents back in their own half.

Until the 10th minute when Molde launched a counter attack and scored a goal that was conceded far too easily. Dedryck Boyata gave the ball away cheaply with a pass out of defence that was intercepted by Mohammed Elyounoussi, who skipped past Nir Bitton before sliding an angled pass into the path of Ola Kamara.

Deila knows all about this guy. He scored 32 goals in 100 games for him with Stromgodset and he hasn't forgotted the way to goal. The striker darted into the box and drilled a low shot past Gordon at his near post to give his team the lead.

And it got worse. In the 18th minute the Scots were two down thanks again to their inability to defend set pieces. They failed to deal with a Molde corner, allowed the ball to bobble around the right side of the penalty box with nobody taking responsibility for hoofing it clear.

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Kris Commons appears to tell John Collins to 'listen to the fans'

Eventually, one centre back, Joona Toivio, was allowed to cross the ball to the back post where his defensive partner Vegard Forren had time to smash a left foot volley down into the ground and up into the net.

It was the fifth European match in a row that Celtic had conceded at least two goals and there were still 70 minutes of this one left. That gave them time to mount a rescue act, but also presented the Norwegians a chance to inflict further damage. They almost did just before the break.

Elyounoussi tore into a gaping hole left by Lustig, who had wandered upfield, took on Boyata then pinged one towards the top corner from a tight angle that needed Gordon's desperate leap to keep it out.

The pattern didn't change after the break. Celtic still looked like scoring and Bitton had two efforts off target - yet at the other end, Molde missed a great chance with a free header from a corner just four minutes after the restart.

And yet Celtic did get back into the game for all of 60 seconds. Commons showed great composure and produced a cute 54th minute finish to lift the ball over Horvath after Molde right back Martin Linnes inexplicably passed the ball straight to him 20 yards from goal.

But their fans were still celebrating when Molde, almost straight from the re-start, attacked Izaguirre on the left and Mattias Mostrom was alllowed to cross for the unmarked Elyounoussi to steer the ball through Gordon's legs from close range.

Kamara should have made it 4-1 in the 71st minute, bursting between Ambrose and Boyata to drive in on Gordon. Luckily for Celtic, the striker angled his drive wide.

Deila tried to change it but in doing so, infuriated Commons by taking him off to be replaced by Nadir Ciftci as they went two up top.

Commons was raging and remonstrated with John Collins on the bench as the Celtic support chanted his name.

Gordon made a fine save to deny Etzaz Hussain in the 83rd minute but the game and the points were gone by then. Nir Bitton hit the bar in the closing minutes but it was a late show of defiance. No more, on a night to forget.

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